Book of Sleepwalking
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Summary
Dream-Wandering Writings is the eighth collection of prose in Jian Zhen's creative journey. It gathers thirty-nine of the finest pieces from over a hundred long and short works written across five years, recording the everyday charms of life in the Taipei suburbs in those days and capturing nimble trains of thought. The author fully expresses a reverence for “life” and gives practice to a longing for “beauty.”
Editor's review
Dream-Wandering Writings is the eighth collection in Jian Zhen's prose career, selecting thirty-nine pieces from more than a hundred long and short works written over five years—substantial yet never bloated. What the book mostly depicts is daily life in the Taipei suburbs, but it never stays on the surface: starting from ordinary scenes and passing thoughts, the author folds her reverence for “life” and her longing for “beauty” into the lines, where nimble imagination and restrained observation intertwine. Jian Zhen's language has always been fastidious, and this collection shows even greater composure, with sentences that unfurl and images that are bright and clear—suited to slow, careful reading. For readers familiar with Jian Zhen, this book reveals a quiet but important transitional passage in her prose landscape; for new readers, it is also a gentle entry point into her world of words. Read one piece on the commute, two before bed, and you will gain something either way. If you are willing to leave a little room for daydreaming and wandering within a fast-paced life, this book will accompany you as you drift—and as you return to life itself.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who enjoy Jian Zhen's prose and want to complete their picture of her creative trajectory
- Readers who prefer slow-paced life essays and are willing to read language closely
- People who need short prose to relax on the commute or before sleep
- Readers interested in writing about daily life and natural scenery in the Taipei suburbs
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting strong plot and fast-paced narrative
- Readers who prefer argumentative writing or content of very high intellectual density
- Readers unaccustomed to the language style of lyrical prose
Reading tips
- Read one or two pieces a day in the order of the table of contents; don't rush—leave time for aftertaste.
- When you encounter passages dense with imagery, read them aloud to experience the rhythm and tone of the sentences.
- Keep a pen handy and jot down lines that move you; look back over them after finishing.
- Read alongside other prose collections by Jian Zhen to feel how her style changes.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 雨夜赋——自序《梦游书》
- 都会边界
- 台北小脸盆
- 发烧夜
- 榕树的早晨
- 仇树
- 砌墙派
- 赖公
- 水昆兄
- 上班族之梦
- 疑心病者
- 魔女的厨房
- 女作家的爱情观
- 一只等人的猴子
- 叫卖声
- 粉圆女人
- 一枚煮熟的蛋
- 深坑老街
- 马桶树
- 上殿
- 水姜哀歌
- 落葵
- 白雪茶树
- 吠鞋
- 野地的雪茄花
- 空屋
- 冬日出草
- 牧神的便条纸
- 忧郁对话
- 一次演讲
- 传真一只蟑螂
- 苦闷文件
- 处方笺
- 寂寞像一只蚊子
- 背起一只黑猫
- 寂寞的冰箱
- 青苔巷
- 鹿回头
- 图腾
- 破灭与完成
- 半夜听经
- 梦游书
- 掌灯刻骨——记洪范版《梦游书》
FAQ
I haven't read any of Jian Zhen's work. Can I start with this book?
Yes. This is a collection of short prose pieces that stand relatively independently and do not depend on prior works for context. The language is as fastidious as Jian Zhen's always is, but the subjects are close to daily life, and new readers can enter through any piece without difficulty. If you like it, it is not too late to go back to her other collections.
Is this book suited to being read all at once?
Not really. The thirty-nine prose pieces are mostly short, and their density lies in language and thought rather than plot; reading them all at once can be tiring. A better approach is to read one or two a day and let each piece's aftertaste settle—the reading experience will be more complete.
What is the book mainly about?
According to the materials, the book records the everyday charms of the author's life in the Taipei suburbs in those days, capturing nimble trains of thought and expressing a reverence for “life” and a longing for “beauty.” The subjects lean toward daily life and reflection; it is not systematic argument, nor does it rely on narrative conflict.
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About the author
Jian Zhen
Author · Chinese · 1961
Jian Zhen, born in 1961 under the original name Jian Minzhen, was born in Yilan, Taiwan, and graduated from the Department of Chinese Literature at National Taiwan University. A contemporary essayist, she calls herself an "incurable lover of the essay" and writes mainly essays along with miscellaneous prose, often centering on memories of rural life, women's experiences and everyday life. Her representative works include Shui Wen, Nü'er Hong, Yanzhi Pendi, Zhi Yuan Shen Zai Ci Shan Zhong, Hong Yingzai, Mengyou Shu, Weiyun de Shulin, Jiuqing Furan and Sifang Shu. Her prose is delicate and concise, rich in imagery and sincere in feeling, giving her a distinctive style in contemporary Taiwanese essay writing. She has received the China Times Literary Award for best essay and the National Award for Arts.
